Teacher leaders are vital to establishing a collaborative school culture that fosters continuous improvement of teaching and student achievement. According to Learning Forward’s definition of professional development, effective professional learning “is conducted among educators at the school and facilitated by well-prepared school principals and/or school-based professional development coaches, mentors, master teachers, or other teacher leaders” (www.lf.wphlab.com/standfor/definition.cfm). Teacher leaders model, facilitate, advocate for, and support ongoing professional learning within schools. Learning Forward’s focus on teacher leadership began in 2004 with the advent of its first national academy for school-based staff developers, as they were called then. Over the last seven years, Learning Forward’s support of teacher leaders has focused more on teachers who support their colleagues by serving in one or more of many roles with